Monash University’s School of Media, Film and Journalism invite chapter proposals for an edited collection on the intersection of celebrity, gender and genre, focused on the persona and work of Scarlett Johansson.
In recent years, Johansson has achieved new standing as the darling of science fiction cinema. However, what makes her a worthy figure of critical investigation is the multiplicity of genres and personae that she has been associated with. In her twenty-year career, Johansson has inhabited the personae of child actor (Manny & Lo (1996), The Horse Whisperer (1998)), indie ingénue (Ghost World (2001), The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001), Girl With a Pearl Earring (2003), Lost in Translation (2003)), director’s muse (Match Point (2005), Scoop (2006), Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)), action heroine (The Island (2006), Iron Man 2 (2009), The Avengers (2012)) and, most recently, science fiction performer (Her (2013), Lucy (2014), Under the Skin (2013), Ghost in the Shell (2017)).
This collection seeks to provide the first book-length account of Johansson’s persona and work. It will position Johansson as a discursive conduit for discussing celebrity as it intersects with questions of gender and genre, a research trajectory that is enabled by Johansson’s varied career. The collection casts a critical eye over the characters she has portrayed and personas that she has inhabited, and how the two intersect and influence one another. The collection not only brings together a critical analysis of Johansson’s work. It draws out the multitude of meanings generated through and inherent to her performances.
We welcome a range of approaches to gender, genre and celebrity, focalised through Johansson’s persona. Possible topics include, but are not restricted to:
Johansson, gender and science-fiction cinema
Indie cinema stardom
“Crossover” stardom
Child performers and performance
Johansson as auteurs’ “muse”
Gender and Johansson as voice performer
Johansson’s action cinema stardom
Female celebrity and science-fiction cinema
Submission requirements:
Please send a 350 word abstract (excluding bibliography) with a title, 100-word bio, and contact information by December 2nd, 2016.
Deadlines: Submission of abstract: December 2nd, 2016 Notification of decisions: by January 6th, 2017 Chapters due: April 7th, 2017
Contact info: Please send abstracts or enquiries to the editors via email at screeningscarlettjohansson@gmail.com.
Editors: Dr Janice Loreck (Monash University) Dr Whitney Monaghan (Monash University) Dr Kirsten Stevens (Monash University)
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